Book Review of Emma by Jane Austen
Name of Book: Emma Author: Jane Austen ISBN: 0-7607-0166-0 Publisher: Barnes and Noble Classics Type of book: Regency England, 1800s, marriage, fear of diseases and colds, "humor", friendship, class rigidity Year it was published: 1816 (version I have 1996) Summary: Pretty, bright and born atop the social strata of the English village of Highbury, Emma Woodhouse has all anyone would want. But she is fated to become the victim of her own irrepressible willfulness. Because of hte recent marriage of her friend and governess, Emma fills the void in her life by attempting to "improve" Harriet Smith, a sweet, pretty 17-year-old of unknown parentage. Emma's good-hearted attempts to rearrange the lives of Harriet and other marriageable townspeople are then the incitement to the book's subtle, intricately constructed plot. Austen employs a sympathetic, gentle satire as she portrays the provincial townspeople-all of whom are good-hearted, but h...